Howard County, Iowa

Infobox U.S. County
county = Howard County
state = Iowa


map size = 225
founded = 1851
seat = Cresco
area_total_sq_mi =474
area_land_sq_mi =473
area_water_sq_mi =0
area percentage = 0.08%
census yr = 2000
pop = 9932
density_km2 =8
web = www.howard-county.com|

Howard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population is 9,932. Its county seat is Cresco.GR|6

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 474 square miles (1,227 km²), of which, 473 square miles (1,226 km²) of it is land and 0 square miles (1 km²) of it (0.08%) is water.

Major highways

*
*
*

Adjacent counties

*Mower County, Minnesota (northwest)
*Fillmore County, Minnesota (north)
*Winnesheik County (east)
*Chickasaw County (south)
*Mitchell County (west)
*Floyd County (southwest)

History

Howard County was founded in 1851. It was named after General Tilghman Ashurst Howard, a Representative of Indiana.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1900= 14512
1910= 12920
1920= 13705
1930= 13082
1940= 13531
1950= 13105
1960= 12734
1970= 11442
1980= 11114
1990= 9809
2000= 9932
footnote= [http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ia190090.txt IA Counties 1900-1990] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 9,932 people, 3,974 households, and 2,650 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 4,327 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 99.06% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,974 households out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 6.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 29.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 20.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,641, and the median income for a family was $43,284. Males had a median income of $28,856 versus $21,367 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,842. About 5.60% of families and 9.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.70% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Chester *Cresco

*Elma *Lime Springs

*Protivin *Riceville

Unincorporated communities

*Florenceville

External links

* [http://www.howard-county.com/ Howard County Development Commission's website]